John Locke was one of the greatest philosophers of his time. His ideas of empirism have greatly affected modern day philosophy.
Biography
John Locke was born on August 29, 1632 in Wrington, which is a small town in England. His father was a country solicitor and inspected sewers for a living. His mother stayed home and tended the house. During his early lifetime England's Civil War was being fought. In 1646, when John was fourteen he attended Westminster School. He studied at Oxford later. Locke's father worked for a government official and the government official paid for Locke's way through school. If his father had not been assisting a government official, John's family wouldn't have had the money to send him to an exclusive school to get a higher education. Later on in life he attended some major universities including Oxford University. He was interested in studying science and medicine. When John was thirty eight he graduated as a bachelor of medicine. He was also interested in politics through out his life. Locke was able to get many jobs having to do with politics. Lord Shaftbury even hired Locke to be his secretary. He was inspired by many of these political people and later wrote many educational documents.
Philosophy
John Locke's main belief was that humans had no innate ideas. His explanation for his reasoning was that when humans were born their mind was like a blank slate. The young humans develop ideas and information through their senses. He called this philosophical idea "Tabula Rasa." Locke's other main belief was that material qualities were divided into primary qualities and secondary qualities. Some of the primary qualities include solidity, extension, figure, motion or rest, amount, and number. Secondary qualities include things you can take in with your senses such as color, sounds, flavors, and smells.
John also had many thoughts on government, and how it should be run. One of his thoughts was that civil government was a result of a social contract. He felt that politics should be combined with philosophy. Another one of his thoughts was that people were equal because nature had made them free. Although he thought this it is found ironic that he was in charge of England's slave trade.
Living in the time of Issac Newton many philosophers of the time focused on using mathematical ideas. Likewise John mainly focused on his empiricist ideas. Empiricist ideas were the ideas that humans proceeded thoughts through the senses. Hume and Berkeley were also empiricists along with Locke. After reading Locke, Hume, and Berkeley's works the people of England formed ideas on establishing American, and writing the Deceleration of Independence.
Locke was influenced by some of the world's greatest philosophers. He had great influence from Thomas Aquinas and Thomas Hobbes. He himself also influenced some of the more modern american philosopher. Such as,
Quotes
"The mind is a blank slate."
"No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience."
"There cannot be a greater rudeness than to interrupt another in the current of his discourse."
"I have always thought the actions of men best interprets their thoughts."
Major Works
(1660) First Tract of Government
(1662) Second Tract of Government
(1664) Questions Concerning the Law of Nature
(1667) Essay Concerning Toleration
(1690) Essay Concerning Human Understanding
(1706) Of the Conduct of Understanding
(1707) A Paraphrase and Notes on the Epistles of St. Paul
Bibliography
Dunn, John. Locke: A Very Short Introduction. New York:Oxford University Press Inc. 2003.
Weate, Jeremy. A Young Person's Guid tto Philosophy. New York:DK Publishing Inc. 1998.
Mullar, Richard. Great Thinkers of the Western World. Ian P. McGreay. 1992.
Moseley, Alexander. "The Political Philosophy of John Locke." The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2006. 9 Apr. 2008 <http://www.iep.utm.edu/l/locke-po.htm>.
Moseley, Alexander. "The Political Philosophy of John Locke." The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2006. 9 Apr. 2008 <http://www.iep.utm.edu/l/locke-po.htm>.
Gardner, Jostein. Sophie's World. New York: Penguin Group. 1990
Introduction
John Locke was one of the greatest philosophers of his time. His ideas of empirism have greatly affected modern day philosophy.
Biography
John Locke was born on August 29, 1632 in Wrington, which is a small town in England. His father was a country solicitor and inspected sewers for a living. His mother stayed home and tended the house. During his early lifetime England's Civil War was being fought. In 1646, when John was fourteen he attended Westminster School. He studied at Oxford later. Locke's father worked for a government official and the government official paid for Locke's way through school. If his father had not been assisting a government official, John's family wouldn't have had the money to send him to an exclusive school to get a higher education. Later on in life he attended some major universities including Oxford University. He was interested in studying science and medicine. When John was thirty eight he graduated as a bachelor of medicine. He was also interested in politics through out his life. Locke was able to get many jobs having to do with politics. Lord Shaftbury even hired Locke to be his secretary. He was inspired by many of these political people and later wrote many educational documents.
Philosophy
John Locke's main belief was that humans had no innate ideas. His explanation for his reasoning was that when humans were born their mind was like a blank slate. The young humans develop ideas and information through their senses. He called this philosophical idea "Tabula Rasa." Locke's other main belief was that material qualities were divided into primary qualities and secondary qualities. Some of the primary qualities include solidity, extension, figure, motion or rest, amount, and number. Secondary qualities include things you can take in with your senses such as color, sounds, flavors, and smells.
John also had many thoughts on government, and how it should be run. One of his thoughts was that civil government was a result of a social contract. He felt that politics should be combined with philosophy. Another one of his thoughts was that people were equal because nature had made them free. Although he thought this it is found ironic that he was in charge of England's slave trade.
Living in the time of Issac Newton many philosophers of the time focused on using mathematical ideas. Likewise John mainly focused on his empiricist ideas. Empiricist ideas were the ideas that humans proceeded thoughts through the senses. Hume and Berkeley were also empiricists along with Locke. After reading Locke, Hume, and Berkeley's works the people of England formed ideas on establishing American, and writing the Deceleration of Independence.
Locke was influenced by some of the world's greatest philosophers. He had great influence from Thomas Aquinas and Thomas Hobbes. He himself also influenced some of the more modern american philosopher. Such as,
Quotes
"The mind is a blank slate."
"No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience."
"There cannot be a greater rudeness than to interrupt another in the current of his discourse."
"I have always thought the actions of men best interprets their thoughts."
Major Works
Bibliography